Advertisement

The most sought after Rolex GMT Master is the original, reference 6542. It's instantly recognizable by the Bakelite bezel, long and slim hand for the second timezone, and the lack of crown guards on the case. Typically though, they still follow the same red and blue "Pepsi" color scheme as their later cousins. But a handful were made in 18k yellow gold with a distinctive brown bezel and dial combination. Sotheby's has an amazing example of this gold 6542 with a nearly flawless case and a beautifully faded dial. Full details after the jump.

We've told you before that this year is a big one for Rolex with it being the 50th anniversary of the Daytona. And here we've got your first look at the two biggest new releases from Rolex: the 50th anniversary Daytona in platinum and a black and blue GMT-Master II. ​We will have all the details on both of these watches (and more) along with live pictures in the coming days, but we just couldn't wait to give you a sneak peek.

I’ve always fantasized about being a one watch guy, wearing my Rolex Submariner for everything from diving wrecks to yardwork to weddings, its bezel becoming faded and its bracelet badly scratched. Sorry to say it, but I’m just not that guy. Not too long ago though, I met a man who was, and boy does his watch tell one hell of a story.

Round three of our What's Selling
Where weekly vintage sales round-up is upon us, bringing you the most
interesting old watches we've come across in the past few days. All of
them are for sale on the web (though again, these are not endorsements
of any kind) and all of them seem like pretty great, rare, or otherwise
interesting objects of desire.

This
week we've got some super duper pieces for you including the true Heuer
"Dark Lord", a vintage GMT-Master UAE presentation watch, and a
gorgeous old JLC Memovox with BLACK dial.

Monday's release of Watch The Throne by Kanye West and Jay-Z is the most talked about album in years, and is well on its way to selling 500,000 copies in the first WEEK (side note: have you ever sold 500,000 of anything in your entire life?) The album is chocked full of watch references, but we've actually spotted a watch given to someone close to Jay and Kanye in celebration of the Watch The Throne release.

A Rolex GMT-Master Made For the Peruvian Air ForcThe Rolex GMT-Master was indeed a watch designed for pilots. It only makes sense that an air-force or two would adopt the 24-hour bezel'd piece as their own.

First, look at the dial. It's perfectly aged, as are the hands. Second, look at the bezel - it's black, not blue and red like you typically find on a 1675. We actually prefer this variation of the GMT, especially on a military watch. Then, we have the fact that this example comes with the original papers that are stamped "Fuerza Area del Peru," which takes the whole watch to a new level. The reason being, it is very easy to fake an FAP watch just be slapping on a caseback with a shoddy engraving, but to find a watch with FAP signed papers is a wonderful thing.

The pre-sale estimate of this FAP watch is $20,000-$30,000 and it will be auctioned off this Sunday in Geneva. Click here for details.

We have profiled a few of the great watches hitting the block at Antiquorum today, but undoubtedly one of the coolest and most historic is a Rolex GMT-Master made in 1958 that was given to then-Lieutenant Don Walsh of the United States Navy. Walsh commanded the U.S. Navy’s Bathyscaph Trieste dive to the Challenger Deep in the Marianas Trench, which was 36,000 feet (almost seven miles) below sea level.

During that record-setting dive, a 57 mm-thick Rolex watch called the Deep Sea Special (which we showed you here) was strapped to the outside of the bathyscaph and it survived the dive unscathed. Upon returning to land, Walsh was given a GMT-Master reference 6542 and he subsequently wore it for the next 25 years, including on 5 trips to the North Pole, at meetings with U.S. Presidents, during service in the Vietnam War, and during a dive to the RMS Titanic.

This watch comes with the original 1960 letter to Don Walsh from Rolex Geneva and the subsequent Rolex New York complimentary invoice as well as a number of other signed articles and documents. The pre-sale estimate is $20,000-$30,000. For more information, click here.

An interesting note is how the current dial (which is a service replacement) came to be. It was actually at the suggestion of a then Rolex executive...more details in the extensive footnote.

Everyone knows that a Red Submariner is worth a lot more than a regular Submariner, and a Double-Red Seadweller more than a traditional SD. But, did you know, that in the very early years of the GMT-Master, there existed a Red GMT? Probably not, but that's what you're staring at, folks.

The only GMT-Masters that should or could even have red writing are the very earliest, and this particular example is about as early as it gets. Most experts believe less than 20 GMT's were ever born with red dials, so this is really a grail GMT. Some even believe these red dials (which also have larger hour markers than you'll find on most 6542's), were test watches for Rolex before the GMT-Master really hit the ground running as a production model.

To find a red GMT is one thing (one incredibly difficult thing), but to find one with the original Bakelite bezel, which we've explained to you before is worth around $12 large by itself, and a case in good condition is beyond rare, in fact it just doesn't happen.

First Generation Rolex GMT with Pristine Bakelite BezelThe Rolex GMT has always held a certain appeal to us. After all, it is THE original jet-setter's watch. As most know, it was designed in conjunction with Pan-American airlines for the first intercontinental airline pilots and has retained a similar look for a solid half century; black dial, 24 hour bezel, and of course that now legendary fourth hand. It is the (unofficial) choice of countless spacemen, the 40 year partner of Ferrari boss Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, and of course, Chuck Yeager wears one too.

The "Pepsi-Bezel" version of the GMTs are the most easily identifiable, but few outside the true aficionados are aware of the varying materials used to make these bi-colored "timing rings", as Rolex themselves called them when originally launched. Originally, the bezel on the GMT was made from a material called polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, or Bakelite. Bakelite was an early plastic that was popularly used in radios, telephones, and jewelry in the first half of the 20th century. It was easily moldable, but also very brittle. The Bakelite bezels faded easily and broke even easier. There was also a fear that they may have been radioactive. Needless to say Rolex began swapping out Bakelite bezels with steel ones relatively quickly after the launch of the GMT.

Not many Bakelite GMT's have survived through the years, and those that have fetch a pretty penny, so the watch we've got for you today is really something special. This early GMT (reference 6542) is in pristine condition, and even the bakelite bezel is "like new". It has a gilt "Swiss" dial, matching hands, and black date wheel. As the seller describes, "we see many marginal examples of the 6542 pop up, this is truly a museum piece."

Now how much would you expect to pay for a first generation GMT Master with original bakelite bezel? Well, a bakelite bezel alone, in worse condition than the one attached to this watch, sold for $11,400 just last week at auction. So, if you add a Rolex watch to this Rolex bezel...well you can do that math. The price is on application, and more details and images of this epic and early Rolex GMT Master with original bakelite bezel can be found right here.

Advertisement

Friday March 3, 2012

HODINKEE is one of the most widely read wristwatch publications in the world. Launched in 2008 by then 25-year-old Benjamin Clymer, the site quickly gained notoriety for earnest looks at some of the industry’s most interesting, and occasionally forgotten timepieces.